How often have you faced the conundrum of having to find something to do that will keep your kids entertained? Many parents face troubles to get their kids to sit tight and involve in things. There are tons of interesting activities for kids that can help you in your quest to keep your kids entertained and out of trouble. When they are on a long break and don’t have much to do, they may often let their mind wander and start getting restless. The one way you can help them burn off steam while also learning something new is to engage in some interesting and educational activities for kids. In this post, we have come up with a bunch of fun and creative activities for you. Read through this article to find out how you can keep your kids active and engaged. These playful activities are a great way to stimulate building self-esteem in your kid. So here are some fun indoor activities for children that they will absolutely love.
Top 35Â Fun Activities For Kids At Home
Playful activities are a good way to stimulate the self-esteem of your kid. He or she are sure to develop natural skills and build strong creativity through playing. Here are 35 fun indoor activities for kids that will keep your child entertained and happy:
1. Dough Art:
This fun activity for kids at home is exciting during the holiday season. Here how you can help your child:
Defrost the bread dough for around 4 hours.
Give your child an apron, if you feel he or she is too messy.
Ask your child to make interesting animals, cartoon characters or plants and paint them with food colors.
Once the dough-art is over, you can bake it at 350 degree for 30 minutes.
2. Backward Day:
This activity is a good way to break from the normal routine. All things happening backward for a day will sure excite your kid!
You can choose a particular day when your kid will wear clothes backward.
It’s best to choose a day when there is no school.
You can also serve dinner backwards and start with the deserts first and end with the main course.
3. Marble Art:
You can enjoy this project with him outdoors:
Take a white chart paper and some marbles.
In small containers put Tampera paints and marbles of different colors.
Help your kid spoon out the marbles and let them roll on the chart paper to create colorful impressions.
4. Leafy Art:
This is a good way to bring him closer to nature:
Collect leaves of different shapes, sizes and colors. Be careful that your kid doesn’t touch trees that are harmful.
Put different poster color paints in a plate and dip the leaves one at a time and press them on a white chart paper.
To make it more interesting you may add glitters.
5. Photo Album:
If you are thinking of a thoughtful activity, creating a photo album of your kid with dad can be an exciting option:
You can create an album capturing all the affectionate moments between your kid and his father.
This is a good way to capture the special moments and the occasions that you will cherish for the rest of your life.
6. Fun With Blankets:
Though it seems strange, you can enjoy with chubby house made from blanket:
Your kid can have a cuddly and soft private home that is truly unique.
It’s one of the best options to play peek-a-boo with your kid.
7. Stars In The Sky:
The sky shows its magic at night with stars glittering everywhere.
You can take your child on the terrace and ask him or her to describe the patterns of the stars what he or she thinks.
We guarantee you will be amazed with your child’s imagination! Also it a good way to encourage counting.
8. Paper Cuttings:
Children look into magazines and newspapers to find interesting pictures they can cut out.
You can ask your kid to keep in mind a story or theme for this project, so that he or she can come out with a story from the paper cutting.
Ask him to glue the paper cuttings in order in a page.
Let him caption the pictures.
You can then ask him to write a story based on the cuttings.
This is a great way to help him figure out his thoughts and it also helps in enhancing writing skills.
9. Packing Boxes:
If you have recently shifted, you will have plenty of cartons lying here and there. Give him the cartons to make a fun activity:
Encourage your child to make passage ways in the large boxes and create windows to allow light to pass.
Let there be provision for the windows to be open or close.
You can also create forts with the boxes.
10. Eating Under The Table:
Well, you can allow him to do this once in a while:
Your family can enjoy a Sunday special breakfast under the table!
For this, make sure the floor is clean, the height of the table is good enough to accommodate all and your child is wearing an apron.
Don’t worry about the mess; you can always clean it later.
11. Make Your Indoor Obstacle Course:
While your kids are indoors and full of energy, use some obstacle courses to keep them charged up. Here are a few ways in which you can help your kids form an obstacle course inside the house. Make sure you choose the points that are age appropriate and will be safe and suitable in your space:
Stretch out a string in between two chairs and ask your kids to crawl through below them.
Your kids have to crawl below or over a row of chairs.
Next, they have to jump inside and outside a set of Hula Hoops five times each.
After that, they have to go and walk on a balance board.
Once that is done, they have to throw a bean bag into a laundry basket from a distance then go and take it out.
Next, they have to run while they are also balancing the bean bag on their head.
Toss a ring.
Ride a tricyle or bicycle on a preset course.
Somersault from one side of the room to the other.
Perform a handstand.
Stand and skip while reciting a poem.
Do jumping jacks ten times.
12. Scrapbook With Autumn Leaves:
You Will Need:
Various sheets of construction paper in the same size Colored yarn Paper clip Leaves and fallen flowers Clear contact paper Phone book Hole punch Glue
How To:
13. Bring The Beach To The Garden:
If you don’t stay near the beach or cannot take the kids to the beach now, you can always bring some beach fun back home.
Set up some water areas in your garden by filling up plastic baby pools with water and beach gear.
Make sure all the kids are dressed in swimming gear and also set up a ball play area in another plastic pool.
Scatter some shells around the garden and ask your kids to go out on a shell finding trail, bringing them back in little pails.
14. Watch The Sun Rise And The Sun Set On The Same Day:
Why not let your kids enjoy the double dose of nature on the same day?
Instead of just watching the sun rise or the sun set, try and let your kids experience the beauty of both on the same day.
Wake up early and head out to see the sunrise. Pack a hearty breakfast and eat it together while watching the sun wake up.
In the evening, set up an early dinner at home and once you have shown your kid the sunset, come back to a ready meal together.
15. Remember The Alphabets:
You can use this fun activity to help your kids learn and remember the alphabets as well as keep older kids entertained by making them remember the words.
The person who will start the game will say something with the first letter of the alphabet, such as “A is for Apple” or anything like that.
The second person will have to say something with the next letter but will also have to remember and say what the first person had said. So the second person will have to say something like “A is for Apple, B is for Ball” and so on.
The chain will continue like this, and it will be fun to see where your kids can reach before you have to begin again.
16. Remember The Tray:
Here is another fun memory game that will work for kids of all ages.
Get a big tray or plate and ask your kids to fill them up with objects from within the house or garden. Your kids have to try and get as many things as possible inside the plate, so make sure the items are small. Also, make sure the kids don’t show their find to the other kids and give it only to you.
Once they fill the tray, take a cloth and close it.
Now sit with your kids and remove the cloth to show them the objects inside, just for a few seconds. Now close it back again and ask your kids to name the objects they saw inside. You can also keep adding new objects after each round to make it a little more challenging.
17. The Double Double Clap Game:
Use this clapping game to help your kids build and improve their gross motor skills.
Before you start the game, make sure your kids know the meaning of the words used. The word ‘front’ means the two players who are playing in a pair will clap their palms together. The word ‘back’ means they will clap the back of their hands together. The word ‘fist’ means they will bump their fists together.
Now memorize the song and play along.
“Double front double front. This back this back. That fist that fist. Double front this back. Double front that fist. Double front double front. This back that fist”.
18. The Bubble Contest:
Use this fun bubble play time to create lots of interesting contest ideas.
Make sure your kids have access to a bubble blower that is filled with soapy water.
Set them challenges such as who can make the highest number of bubbles in a given amount of time?
Who can create the biggest bubble?
Whose bubble will fly up the highest?
Whose bubble stays for the longest time and so on.
19. Make A Writer’s Den:
If you want to encourage your kid to write, or if your kid already enjoys it, you can make this great den at home.
Take some bedsheets and cushions and arrange a cozy nook near your table. Make sure you clear the top of the table so that there is no risk of objects crashing to the ground.
Set up a tent area and fill it up with some snacks and homemade juice. Also, keep some writing accessories handy, such as notebooks, pencils, pens, colors and all.
Make sure that there is enough light coming inside the tent, or you can place a floor lamp nearby.
20. Egg Music Maker:
You Will Need:
Plastic eggs Popcorn kernels 2 plastic spoons for each player Hot glue gun Glue stick
How To:
21. Beach Shell Art:
You Will Need:
Lots of sea shells Watercolors Paint brush
How To:
22. Water Spray War:
Use this game to let your kids enjoy the feeling of being in a swimming pool without even being in one.
One of the kids will be the ‘it’ and will hold a spray bottle. Now the ‘it’ will have to tag some other kid by spraying them with water.
The person who gets sprayed with water will have to take over and be the ‘it.’
All kids have to try and duck the water spray and continue playing.
23. Newspaper Golf:
You Will Need:
Newspaper Tape Golf or a tennis ball Masking tape or a paper
How To:
24. Unfreeze The Pool:
Make use of your kiddie swimming pool in a different way.
Fill up your kids’ swimming pool, the plastic ones, with ice cubes instead of water.
Now ask your kids to stand outside the pool and keep a small tray or plate next to each person.
Your kids have to take out the ice cubes from the pool using only their feet and place them on the plates.
The kid who gets the highest number of ice cubes out the fastest will be the winner.
25. Rainbow Soapy Foams:
You Will Need:
2 tbsp. of dish soap ¼thcup of water A mixer Food coloring
How To:
26. Sponge Dodging:
Use this fun water activity to let your kids enjoy some pre-bath moments and have lots of physical activity too.
Fill a bucket of water and cut up lots of sponges so that all the kids have one piece each.
Ask all the kids to dip the sponges in the water bucket so that it gets soaked up with water.
Once all the kids have wet their sponge, ask them to back off and get ready.
On the count, the kids have to throw their soaked sponge at each other and try and hit someone. All the kids have to try and dodge the other kids’ sponges. The kid who gets hit with the water soaked sponges will be out of the game.
The kid who remains standing till the end will be the winner.
27. Paper Towel Art:
You Will Need:
Paper towels or coffee filters Marker pens in different shades
How To:
28. Head Out On The Treasure Hunt:
Depending on what time of the year it is, you can set up an appropriate treasure hunt for your kids.
Mark out an area where the treasure hunt will take place.
The best part about this activity is that you can carry it out in the house, do it in your backyard or your garden, do it at the local park, at the beach, or practically anyone you are comfortable to take your kids too. However, make sure that you let your kids go on the treasure hunt only while a responsible adult is around.
Set a list for the kids about things they have to find. You can hide the things yourself and ask your kids to find it out by giving appropriate clues.
Alternatively, you can also hand out a list to your kids with the different types of things they should find. A few ideas are different types and colors of leaves, shells, feathers and such.
29. Learn How To Give And Receive Compliments:
A very important thing to teach your kids is the art of giving and receiving compliments.
Start by saying something nice to your kids and asking them to reply with a ‘thank you’ or another nice thing in return.
You can give your kids different compliments such as ‘You have a beautiful smile’ or ‘I love it when you clean up your room’ or ‘I am so proud of you that you are such an honest boy.’
Once you have said this to your kid, ask them to either say a ‘thank you’ or some other nice thing just the way you told them earlier.
It is also a great way to teach your kid that there are certain things about others that they may or may not like. However, they have to understand that instead of focusing on the bad things, they should look for the good things in others and use that to pay a compliment.
30. Catch A Bug:
It is possible that your kids are scared of bugs and other crawlies inside the house, but this activity will help them conquer their fear.
Give your kids a glass jar or a sheet of paper and ask them to catch a bug that they see.
Instead of running away, they can place the bug in the jar and observe it for some time.
Later, after a few minutes of looking at the bug and understanding its body structure and other things, they can set it free in the outdoors.
31. Visit A Local Social Service Center:
The right time to start your kids on good work is right from the time they are young.
Select a local help center that your kid can visit along with you, keeping your kid’s age in mind.
You can choose from a host of places such as the fire station, the bank, the post office, an old age home, a child care facility, or anything you feel is appropriate.
If required, take the time out and find out if you need an appointment to visit or if you can simply walk in with your kid.
You can also simply take your kid to the mall or local grocery store and show them how the products are billed and how the produce and other items are divided in various aisles and such.
32. Have A Family Pillow Fight:
A pillow fight is just that, a pillow fight, and not something that can be restricted to just kids, so feel free to join in.
Set up lots of pillows on the bed or the floor, depending on your kids’ age. If you have very young kids, you may want to do this on the carpet on the floor, so that your kids do not lose balance and topple off.
Older kids will find it more fun and manageable on the bed too.
Start by making sure that everyone has a pillow to use. Gently start hitting each other with the pillows in a playful way.
You can also try to gang up your kids against you and ask them to try and put you down with the pillow fight.
33. How Do I Feel?
Use this brilliant activity to teach kids all about facial expression and the art of expressing themselves.
Make your kids sit down and be the leader.
Start by making different faces at your kids. You have to make sure that you make a host of different facial expressions that will express your mood and feeling. Use various expressions to show sadness, happiness, fear, anger, confusion, sleepiness, tiredness, worry, surprise, excitement, embarrassed, shy, interested and so on. You have to make sure that the expressions you choose are those that your kid will understand or can relate to, so keep it age appropriate.
Show one expression at a time and ask your kids to name the feeling that you shared. If your kid is not able to point it out correctly, help by giving them some clues about it.
Encourage your kid to start showing off the expressions themselves and you have to guess. Try and not guess it correct too soon so that your kid gets a chance to express you more about what they may be feeling and what they are trying to show.
34. Maths In The Garden:
Use this brilliant activity to keep your kids interested in numbers.
Start by heading out to your garden or a local garden nearby.
Set your kids on different tasks such as measuring the length of a particular plant or counting the number of flowers or buds on a plant.
35. Thank You Tree:
Teach your kid the importance of being thankful to the tree by doing this simple activity.
Ask your kid to pick out a thick branch that has many other branches attached to it.
Bring it home and stick it in a pot.
Ask your kid to write out one name each week for which they are thankful. It could be the name of a person, a pet, an activity, or anything they think made them feel good.
Your kid will have to paste it on the branch each week and see how the tree grows.